26/11/2009 - Let's go Murray

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11.10pm Well well well...

So from looking like Murray was certain to go through on several occasions, when DP was cruising, or Fed fighting back, he is now out. A fix between DP and RF? Or just the luck of the game. I'll bet everyone is wondering what Muzz is thinking. Not chipper at all I imagine. What an end to the round robin though. Could not have been closer.

So that is that...Roger Federer and Juan Martin Del Potro progress through from Group A, Robin Soderling and TBC progress from Group B. Muzza is done for 2009. I'm going to put my running shoes on and sprint for the tube, but I'll be back tomorrow afternoon. What a night.

11.05pm Del Potro 6 Federer 3

Having looked rock solid all set, Del Potro suddenly gets three break points on the Federer serve. How did that happen? Fed saves the first, but the next proves too much, and the Argentine will serve for the match, 5-3. If he serves it out, Muzz is out. If he doesn't, Muzz is in. Somewhere across London, Murray must be going mad.

So...do or die time for Del Potro. And he is certainly doing. 15-0, then 30-0, courtesy of a scintillating backhand. But then he nets a forehand. 30-15. This is too much.

God bless Federer. He gets another point back. 30-30. But then a very weak second serve comes down, and RF taps it into the net. Why oh why? Match point Del Potro....

An ace, and that's it. Del Potro wins, he is through, Federer is through, Murray is out. Unbelievable.

11pm Del Potro 4 Federer 3

And the confusion continues. 5livetennis on twitter "Funny scenes after Fed levelled. About 30 journalists suddenly descended on the ATP office to find out what that means." Hmmm. I think my initial course of action was best. Just give up on working it out.

Back to the tennis...Federer holds again in majestic fashion, and DP is serving at 3 games apiece. And just like that, when everything was going so smoothly, Fed has a sniff of a chance on the Argentine serve. An error by a suddenly tired looking Del Potro gives the 15-Slam champ two break points.

He saves the first with a big serve, and the second..is gifted back to him after Fed nets the backhand. What a chance. But, as if by magic, and a great lob and smash, Fed gets another chance. And bother. Along comes another big serve.

Del Potro's forehand seems to get bigger and bigger - a huge one lands on the baseline and Fed's lands out - he shouts in anger as DP holds. I don't blame him.

10.45pm Del Potro 3 Federer 2

JMDP hold again, and the players return to their seats. How much they must look forward to those 25 second breaks. Odd to think this could be the last match either one of them plays this year. I bet they're delighted.

Those early nerves on serve seem to be from a different era as Federer powers through another service game, making it two games a piece. The more mathematically gifted tell me that DP can only go through if he wins 6-3...ergo, even if DP wins the set on a tie-break, he won't go through.

I'm sure the players don't have all this silly maths running around in their heads. Del boy certainly doesn't, serving out to love. Again.

10.35pm Del Potro 1 Federer 1

So what does that mean for Murray? Well, now that Federer's gone and taken things to a third set, he'd better win it. If DP wins it, Murray's out. Or so we think. Seems like Katie O'Brien, one of the cleverest tennis players I know, agrees.... @katiejobrien on twitter Let's all hope Federer wins now...saves us all trying to do the Maths! Too right.

So set No.3...that second set took 51 minutes, meaning we could be in for a long haul here. I'm not thinking about how to get home. While DP wins his serve easily, Federer starts where he left off, banging down his serve to love. That's the way...

10.30pm Federer 7 Del Potro 6

Del Potro serving for a 5-2 lead then, and it's looking all but done and dusted. But then who knows what governs these things. I'd hate to speak too soon. Again. And of course I do...Federer does a little hop as he claws the mini break back and we're back on serve, 4-3 to Fed.

The Swiss fans wave their flags eagerly as the world No.1 levels at 4-4, but then he nets what you would think would be a hunky dory volley. Cue big groan from the rows of Swiss journalists. And then it's the Argentines turns to groan as DP squanders the chance. 5-5. This breaker is giving a new meaning to the word 'ping pong.'

Momentum shifts again, like quicksand, and Federer has a set point. Ding dong bells. A lunge volley, and he makes it. Hop, skip and jump. Mirka claps, the crowd claps, DP doesn't clap.

10.20pm Federer 6 Del Potro 6

In the words of a fellow blogmaster... @FortyDeuceTwits on twitter Alrighty Elfie...break here...hrmph. Or not. Eloquently put.

Del Potro holds though, and here comes the tie-break, our third of the day. The crowd are increasingly behind Del Potro if their reaction to his first serve is anything to go by. Perhaps they're better at maths than the journalists.

And the cheers increase when Del Potro gets a mini-break to go 3-1 up. Verrrry interesting.

10.15pm Federer 6 Del Potro 5

So...can Federer make inroads on the US Open champ's serve? Alas not. 5 games a piece in the O2.

A brief aside. If you're not feeling full of cheer at the proximity of Christmas, all you need to do is get yourself down to the O2. They've got a Christmas fair going on, and the dulcet tones of all the best crimbo songs are drifting up to the media centre. Lovely jubbly.

Christmas is still on the cards for Federer here at the O2. He holds again.

10.10pm Federer 5 Del Potro 4

We hear from a journo in the crowd that the atmosphere is bubbling, but not yet at fever pitch... @talktennis on twitter atmos about a 7...they want a comeback methinks ....and that comeback is still on the cards when both players hold again. Fed a game away from the set. Ho hum di dum.

10.05pm Federer 4 Del Potro 3

Perhaps Federer has been hiding...he wins the first point on Del Potro's for the first time, so maybe he's about to bring out the secret breaking weapons. Letting Juan the Man bosh another big forehand suggests not. 'Federer shouldn't have changed his tactics,' says the commentator. We'll see...

The game goes to deuce, but that forehand gets Del Potro out of jail again...

By the bye, the organisers of this event have thought of everything - they even let the crowd know when it's break point..most helpful.

Not that there were any to be found in that Federer service game. The world No.1 holds to love.

9.55pm Federer 3 Del Potro 2

And this time it's Fed who breezes through his service game, to love. That'll give his confidence a bit of a boost. By the bye, the Boost is our chocolate bar of choice. Yum.

The No.5 seed also holds with ease, and it's level pegging in the second set after 18 mins. Del Potro decides to change his racket. Good on him. And it seems to work, as on the first point of Federer's serve he makes an obscene forehand that lands right in the corner. Luck is smiling on Mr DP this evening. I'd like some luck, please.

But this time the Fed gets away, keeping his nose ahead. Hmm.

9.50pm Federer 1 Del Potro 1

Well, we certainly didn't see that one coming. But that probably says more about our predicting skills than anything else. So set No.2, and this match is going at a ferocious pace.

Del Potro launches off again with abandon, creating another break point opportunity, but Fed manages to squeak through. Things suddenly slow down on Del boy's serve, who holds to 30....the first two games have taken 11 mins...almost a third of the entire first set!

9.35pm Federer 2 Del Potro 6

A few more words of wisdom from Mr Newbery for you... @piersnewbery on twitter It's possible I don't know what on earth I'm talking about, but an easy opening set for delpo would seem to be the worst start for Murray ....that would be about right. Not good at all for Murray lovers.

And a chap who calls himself welshronaldo agrees... @welshronaldo on twitter This doesn't bode well for Murray. You'd think Fed would want some revenge against Del P but it doesn't look like it.

Our fears are proved all too correct when the Argentine brings up his first set point after just 37 minutes. My oh my. One serve later and that's the set.

9.30pm Federer 2 Del Potro 5

There must come a moment in every player's life when you think, 'this is just to good.' If I was Roger Federer (which obviously I'm not), I'd be starting to think that now. Del Potro seems to have entered the court with fairy dust in his fingers, punishing Rog with the forehand, keeping himself in with the backhand, raining down the serve, and even hitting a beautifully crafted lob. What to do?

5-1 up after just half an hour, it's now up to Federer to serve to stay in the set. Luckily, he finds his own brand of brilliant, dishing away a couple of volleys with disdain. Still, it's 5-2, and JM DP is very much in the driving seat. Of a ferrari.

9.25pm Federer 1 Del Potro 4

And yet again, yours truly is proved utterly wrong. Federer comes out with his usual flair and aplomb, but it is Del Potro who comes out swinging, boshing that ridiculous forehand, winding up for it, and on his fourth break point, getting his name on the score board before Federer's. The cheek of it.

Fed looks determined to get it back straight away, but on this court, the Del Potro serve is equally gigantic. As the crowd ooh and aah, and pockets of red groan, DelPo holds to consolidate the break. The Fed finally gets his name up in the end on his second service attempt. Time to break back.

But 'Del Boy' as one of the crowd cleverly called out, has other ideas, and with another big serving game, he keeps a 3-1 lead. Power tennis this. Then, would you believe it, he breaks again! Certainly not according to the script.

8.45pm Here comes the Fed

So, to the second moment we've all been waiting for...the arrival of Roger Federer onto the court for his third and final round robin match. Although never quite at his imperious best, and having to deal with two three-setters, you'd never quite count Federer out...

...even if his opponent is the 6ft 6in beanpole who wrested the US Open and a 16th Slam title from under his nose. Del Potro may have beaten Verdasco, but he has not looked comfortable since that remarkable Flushing Meadows win, has a bit of a dodgy wrist, and is going up against Rog in practically his second home town. The Brits are certainly Federer fans.

And there are plenty of them about, including this patriotic chap...

8.30pm Doubles done and dusted

I won't be making predictions again after Mertinak and Cermak completely dominated the Poles...it feels a bit like being slapped around the face with a wet halibut. Oh well. Everyone makes mistakes I suppose.

Back on the O2 watch, and the Bryan brothers have tweeted about practicing with Davydenko's nephew...apparently one to watch out for in the future. We papped one of the Bryans on the court...predictably, the crowd was copious.

7.15pm Andy's reaction

So...Mariusz Fyrstenbery and Marcin Matkowski get the tennis going again against Cermak and Mertinak out on court...the Polish duo have been very impressive in this event, so count on them to put on a show.

Meanwhile back at the ranch (media centre), Andy Murray has popped into press. Gently ribbing the press for making this qualification process far more complicated than it needs to be, he praised Verdasco for playing 'ridiculous' on the big points, coming up with big serves on putting him in very difficult positions.

Asked about his level this week, he replied, 'If I get through, it will have been good enough. I was disappointed with the Federer match, but today I didn't think I played a poor match at all. I didn't give him too many chances.'

What will be key for Muzz though is that should he go through, he'll have at least a day's rest until his semi-final on Saturday, which will do wonders for those aching bones and stiff muscles.

6.45pm Wandering

A little while to kill before the next doubles encounter hits the courts, so I took a little wander around...good to get some air after the slightly overwhelming nature of the press room. As I left I heard an Italian journalist cry - 'Please, explain it to me, I don't understand!'

The interval between matches is rather like a mammoth find-a-place-to-eat expedition. All the restaurants have huge queues running out of them, the walkways are so packed it takes a while to get anywhere, as are the shops..

I've spotted what I would do if I was at a loose end...how much fun...

Verdasco meanwhile has gone missing in action. It's been over an hour since the match finished, and he's yet to come into press. Poor boy

5.45pm Head scratching

I said it would be complicated. The media room is now awash with journalists chattering amongst themselves on the outcome of this evening, trying to see who can work it out first. The BBC's Piers Newbery sums it up rather nicely.. @piersnewbery on twitter Some of the finest minds in journalism are currently short circuiting here. a twist in the tale, apparently a delpo straight sets win puts Murray out, 3 sets and it's down to games won. Basically, pray for a federer win unless you're delpo mad...

Right then...come on the Fed...

5.35pm Waiting game

Well that was quite some match. Three hours on the dot, 18 aces from Murray, 13 from Verdasco, 39 winners and 28 unforced errors from the Brit, 56 winners and 19 errors from the Spaniard, and a total points tally of 135 to 120.

Ab fab tennis from both camps, and although Verdasco goes home with no wins to his name, he has provided a lot of pizzazz to this event, almost upsetting Fed and now Muzz.

For Murray though, it's now a case of wait and see, as whether or not he makes the semi-finals will now depend on the antics of Roger Federer and Juan Martin Del Potro, who'll be taking to the court at 8.45pm...a long long wait.

5.30pm Murray 7 Verdasco 6

It's an age-old debate whether Master Murray's defensive counter-puncher tactics are enough to win him big matches, and more importantly Grand Slams, one that has certainly raged over this week. Greg Rusedski is not popular in the Murray camp. But when Murray is lobbing and Verdasco smashing, the Spaniard firing forehands and the Brit dumping them in the net, you can't help but think that there may be some truth in it.

Despite that criticism, it is Murray who keeps ahead in the breaker, executing a scrummy volley to stay 3-2 up. And no sooner had I criticised, than Murray earns himself a mini break to go 4-2. Typical.

With the crowd, journos and all and sundry on tenterhooks, Verdasco nets another forehand, and Muzz is now looking at a 5-2 lead...he can serve it out....But a forehand goes in the net, prompting another pinging of his racket on hand. We're at the three hour mark now, and it's 6-3 Murray...three match points.

A huge bomb serve for Verdasco, followed by a forehand drive volley, and it's wide! Murray screams in relief, the crowd get to their feet, and the British No.1's hopes are still alive....best get the calculator out then.

5.22pm Murray 6 Verdasco 6

So..one game away yet again..what can Murray do here? Sadly, not much, as furry Fernando plonks down big serve after big serve after big serve, and would you believe, holds to love. It'll be another wretched tie-break.

5.20pm Murray 6 Verdasco 5

Another impressive hold by Verdasco and another by Murray, and the Brit is still ahead, six games to five. It's so close that I could eat my hat.

5.15pm Murray 5 Verdasco 4

Yet again, this would be a mighty fine time for Murray to break if he can muster it, and opportunity knocks when he goes 15-30 up...but all too soon that becomes 30-30. If only the gods would smile on our Muzz. But Verdasco is playing a very aggressive game out there, and it is paying off. Clever bean.

There is no disputing that Murray has got a whole lot of heart - he bish, bash, boshes his way through his service game to put him one game away from the big 'W'.

5.05pm Murray 4 Verdasco 3

And so it continues..Murray needs to find a second wind, and fast, because the momentum is very much in the Spaniard's court at the moment. It looks like that wind might be approaching when he fires a forehand across the court to keep the pressure on, but in another so close and yet so far situation, Verdasco holds.

Meanwhile in the press centre, the screens freeze. Oops. Not helpful. How we rely on technology. The Italians, who are sitting behind me, promptly go into a chattering frenzy. I wonder who they are rooting for?

As Murray holds to keep things on serve, a picture of Verdasco for you, just in case you forgot what he looks like..

4.55pm Murray 3 Verdasco 2

Both Verdasco and Murray hold again, and during the break Muzz seems to be having a chat with someone about something or other....he does like to raise issues that boy. Wonder if it's a call for the trainer...

4.45pm Murray 2 Verdasco 1

Other than Andrew Castle's taste in music, other news in the tennis world is of a report put out by title sponsor Barclays, written by a certain Professor Tom Cannon, who earlier in the year predicted that tennis would boost the economy by £400 million over the next year...looking at the sell out crowds here, the healthy prize money cheques, and the queues outside the shops, it looks like he could well be right.

On the court, both players hold again. Wooo.

4.40pm Murray 1 Verdasco 0

My head is now full of all sorts of mathematical equations that make absolutely no sense. I think I'll just wait till after the match. Ferrr nips to the bathroom, looking exceedingly chipper, and it's Murray up first on serve. Thankfully, he's put that set behind him and holds with ease.

4.35pm Verdasco 7 Murray 6

So it's getting a little edgy here at the O2 as we go to tie-break territory. I should know which player has the better record in breakers, but I'm afraid I don't. If I was hazarding a guess I'd say Muzz, but it doesn't look that way when he falls 2-0 and then 4-2 behind. 'Come on Andy,' the crowd cry. Ditto.

Well, well, just when we were beginning to get all pessimistic in typically British fashion, Murray gets the mini-break back and it's 4-4. But what a surprise, I spoke too soon...two big forehands later and Verdasco has two set points. One moment later, and the set is the Spaniards.

Murray howls. There's no other word for it.

4.30pm Verdasco 6 Murray 6

All that physical training is certainly paying off...Verdasco leaps like a lord at the net to hit a Henman-esque backhand smash. Bravo. But Muzz holds and we're into a tie-break.

4.20pm Verdasco 6 Murray 5

Another telling stat for you...Verdasco has hit 38 unforced errors in this match so far, 22 off his forehand flank. Murray meanwhile has hit a more respectable 20. And it's another duo of errors that give the Muzz two further break points....

....and he almost makes the first with a shot Roger Federer is rather fond of..the flying forehand leap out of the court. Credit to Verdasco though, he rips a massive forehand to save the second. And then suddenly he's leaning over the net, having given Murray another break point, and then another! How painful.

Muzz has now had 11 break point chances and converted one.....ouch. He is chatting to himself angrily. I don't blame him. Another maaaassive forehand, and Verdasco holds. Wowser.

4.15pm Verdasco 5 Murray 5

Apologies if I sounded a bit like a preacher teacher there...I just think racket smashing is very silly. Anyway...Murray serving to stay in the second set here, and Verdasco is getting increasingly agitated. Poor possum.

An interesting stat for you though - Murray has come to the net precisely six times in this match, Verdasco 24....and his tactic pays off when the Spaniard makes a great volley to bring up set point. Holding breath time.

Luckily Murray rains down a big 'un from on high to hold...he grits his teeth and yells...'yeeeeeaaahhh.'

4.10pm Verdasco 5 Murray 4

Another hold for Master Muzz, and, sadly, another hold for his counterpart. Muzz whacks his hand into his racket. But, young readers and players note, he does not smash it on the floor a la Djokovic. Fine example.

4pm Verdasco 4 Murray 3

So another opportunity missed, and nowhere is there more disappointment than in the media centre, where every single bottom on seat is hoping for a straight sets win to avoid the need to call up Stephen Hawking for mathematical help.

Luckily, Muzz does the business on his own serve, and at 40-0 up, Verdasco looks like doing the same....but then Murray breaks a string, changes his racket, and hey presto, it's deuce. But all in vain, and Verdasco holds again.

These boys certainly are doing a lot of running...Murray's face is becoming more angular by the minute. Sushi restaurants look out.

3.55pm Verdasco 3 Murray 2

Another member of the BBC brigade, the esteemed Caroline Cheese, has had her say on the match so far.. @caroline cheese on twitter Don't think Verdasco really believes he can win this. Murray looks a bit nervous too. Not making for great tennis ...that may be true, but this crowd are loving it nevertheless.

And they're loving it even more when Muzz brings up his eighth break point opportunity of the match so far, half an hour into the second set. This could be good, very good. But as before, the slippery Spaniard slips through and stays ahead on serve.

In other falling off chair-type news, Andrew Castle has just announced to the world that he went to a Lady Gaga gig.

3.45pm Verdasco 2 Murray 2

Sorry for the delay folks - we had a dog ate my homework type technical hitch. But we're back now, with a cold cup of tea, some soggy biscuits. God bless press centre food.

Verdasco had to get out of jail again in his first service game, saving two break points, but he held, and held again. Meanwhile Muzz is still looking like edging it, his backhand whipping across the court like wild fire.

3.25pm Verdasco 4 Murray 6

So..to serve out the set. It doesn't quite go to plan when Verdasco nabs the first point, and the second. Hmm. One of those double faults appeared again - his fourth of the match so far. Fatigue must play havoc with one's serve. But showing us what he's made of, Murray claws it back to 30-30 in fine style.

A moment later, and it's set point Murray after 49 minutes of play. Alas, it's the normally steady backhand that lets the Brit down..deuce. Cue a big forehand, and set point No.2...as the revolving luminous bar inside the arena helpfully reminds the crowd.

Alack, that one falls courtesy of a forehand. But never fear, Murray is still here, and he creates his third set point opportunity. And would you believe it, there goes that one too. 'Oh Andy,' the press room cries. So..the fourth set point...phew, he gets it.

3.15pm Verdasco 4 Murray 5

Young Mr Hutchins is also watching avidly in the Murray camp...no doubt he'll be joining Andy and Jamie for their off-season in Miami. I wonder if they'd like a blogger on board...

Meanwhile, Piers Newbery of the BBC reports that even Sue Barker and the gang are enthralled... @piersnewbery on twitter Sue Barker and team watching intently from the BBC gantry - they don't just switch over to bargain hunt you know. Cagey stuff on court... Glad to hear it...

Ah yes, the match. Murray holds again without any sign of barney rubble, but not so Verdasco. You can't help but think he must crack shortly. A particularly errant backhand keeps Muzz in the game at 30-30, and again at deuce, and again to give the Brit a fifth break point! Surely he can get his teeth into this one. And he does, lofting the ball every which way to force the Verdasco error. Game on.

3.05pm Verdasco 4 Murray 3

Murray holds again in an assured manner as we approach the half hour mark in this match, and the pressure's back on Mr 'I love my hair-do'. Watched by his papa, he drops the first point, but soon gets it back with some ferocious forehands. Fernando Gonzalez eat your heart out.

As I'm sure you know, Murray will be joining the Adidas brigade in January..only hope they don't put him in orange...can you imagine? Anyway, the one wearing the orange top plops an easy forehand into the net, giving Murray his fourth break point of the match. Conversion? No. A Verdasco ace removes the danger. Still, close though.

2.55pm Verdasco 3 Murray 2

It's a tough life being a ball girl...you often end up doing the splits like this poor sausage not quite but almost did when she tried to run after two balls at once in different directions. Amazing experience though. If you want to be one, check out www.barclaysballkids.com

As, increasingly, is this tennis....Verdasco is battering the ball on the court, while Muzz does what he does best, chips, chops and generally gets in the Spaniard's hair. They both hold again.

We mentioned Jamie Muzz earlier, and it's nice to see him watching in the crowd, alongside Papa Muzz...Jamie's had a great end to the year, winning several Challengers and putting himself back into the top 100...keep it up.

2.50pm Verdasco 2 Murray 1

The Muzzcat responds with a hold of his own, but not before Ferr makes it a little tricksy. And then he keeps his nose ahead with another hold. Could be some firecrackers here.

2.40pm Verdasco 1 Murray 0

So...Murray's third round robin match gets going to the tune of a hearty cheer from the O2 Arena crowd...we're punting (and hoping) for Murray in two, but then you never know..

Verdasco, who played such a crucial part in Spain's victory in last year's Davis Cup, opens proceedings on serve. And right away Muzz is rising to the challenge, creating his first three break points. Well I never. Sadly they all go begging.

2.25pm And here they come...

Marching out into a mist of dry ice, out comes the pocket rocket Fernando Verdasco, who has bulked up considerably under the tutelage of Gil Reyes, followed by the British No.1, in a nice Fred Perry hoodie. Could be the last time we see him in the British icon's laurel wreath...let's hope not.

2.20pm Awaiting Murray

As ever, I spoke to soon....Zimonjic and Nestor secured their first win of the week 11-9 in the breaker and that was that. Cue a mass exodus from the arena before Murray gets underway...what for? A comfort break of course...

The court meanwhile is lit up in it's usual luminous, uber-cool fashion. Top marks to those behind the branding and design..very edgy, very modern, very cool. Not that we have any degree/knowledge/experience of design whatsoever. But we like it.

1.55pm Shopping..

In anticipation of the mighty Murray, as we hope to call him, I've been taking a wander around the O2's corridors to see how the fans are feeling today. If you have been here before, to a concert, or whatnot, you'll know that it is 1. vast, and 2. awash with stalls, so it' s good to see that the leading lights of tennis manufacture have muscled in on the action.

The official kit sponsor of the event is Lacoste, so they have a very swanky looking stall, as do Pacific, sellers of strings and grips and such like. The one that jumped out at us though was HEAD, who as well as their tip top rackets, are doing a roaring trade selling giant tennis balls for autographs.

Which colour would you go for? Got to be orange...

Meanwhile in the dubs, it's 9-9 in the tie-break...Ay Carumba..

1.50pm Happy Thanksgiving

Did you know it's Thanksgiving today? Indeed it is, the last Thursday in November. So enjoy some turkey and pecan pie if you're feeling in the mood. I might go and find out if Starbucks are doing any special sort of drink...

That prattle aside, Zimonjic and Nestor are looking much happier today, largely because they're winning. They won the first set against the the No.3 seeds 6-4, and are serving to take the second into a tie-break. The press centre here though is not abuzz with the doubles, sadly. It's abuzz with the Muzz chat. The calculators are out left, right and centre..you'd think it was Mission Control at NASA rather than a tennis event...

12.30pm Down to the wire

Now, the mathematics surrounding today's play get rather complicated. As we understand it, if Murray beats Del Potro in two sets, and Del Potro beats Federer in two sets, then Murray and Del Potro go through. If Murray beats Verdasco, and Federer beats Del Potro, Murray and Federer go through, if not, Murray doesn't go through. Confused? So are we.

Despite these complexities, Master Murray was on his usual banterous form on twitter, ribbing brother Jamie for having to wear bright red football boots at a Help for Heroes celeb football match at Wembley. Ha.

Meanwhile, out on the court, the doubles is about to get underway...the rather beleagured Daniel Nestor and Nenad Zimonjic looking to secure their first win of the week over the experienced Mahesh Bhupathi and Mark Knowles.

11.45am Bonjour...

...bonjourno and good day. Hope you are all feeling fine and dandy on another bright and beautiful day in the capital. We can't quite contain ourselves with excitement, as in roughly an hour and a half's time, master Murray himself will be striding into the O2 arena for his third and final round robin match. It's going to be grrrreat.

For those of you who kept with the action late last night, you'll know that Rafael Nadal was taken apart by Nikolay Davydenko in a repeat of their Shanghai final. 'I fighted a lot,' the Spaniard said, giving a rueful shrug. What do you think about Rafa's demise? Can he get back to his best? Let us know on twitter (@ACETennisMag) or on facebook...

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